The Rush Children's Hospital Child and Adolescent Diabetes Program is dedicated to the health and well-being of children and teenagers with diabetes. What is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease that is caused by too much sugar in the blood. This usually occurs because the body does not produce enough of a substance called insulin. It can be a very serious disease that can even cause death if not treated. But with treatment, most diabetes patients are able to live long, healthy lives.

Some symptoms of diabetes include:

• frequent urination
• excessive thirst
• excessive hunger
• rapid weight loss

The program at Rush offers comprehensive care and education for children and adolescents with diabetes and their families. A multidisciplinary team, comprising a pediatric endocrinologist, diabetes nurse, dietitian and social worker, provides coordinated, state-of-the-art care for children and teenagers with diabetes.

We teach children and adolescents with diabetes how to take care of themselves as best they can for their age. Our multidisciplinary team assures your child the best care available, whether he or she is coming in for a regular checkup or a hospital stay.

• Evaluation and an individualized treatment program
• Inpatient and outpatient care
• Ongoing educational programs based on current guidelines of the American Diabetes Association.

• Richard A. Levy, MD, a pediatric diabetologist, oversees patient care.
• Joanne Roney, MSN, RN, CDE, educates patients with diabetes about the disease, review diabetes basics and help children to master age-appropriate skills to care for themselves.
• Rebecca Barager, PAC, CDE, and Maria O'Connor, RD, PAC, are the team's physician assistant.
• Karen Giese, MS, RD, CDE, is the team’s dietitian. She provides education about what foods to eat, addresses specific dietary questions and problems, and conducts an annual review of each patient’s eating habits. She is also an exercise physiologist and pump trainer.